Over-running clutch driving tool

ABSTRACT

A driver which can be used, for example, as a socket wrench, comprising an over-running roller clutch, a handle means surrounding and attached to the roller clutch, a rotor assembly having a rotor portion in the rotor clutch and having a tool means attached to the rotor portion and projecting to one side of the clutch.

United States Patent Vlasin 51 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] OVER-RUNNING CLUTCH DRIVING TOOL v [72] Inventor: Ronald J. Vlesin, R. R. 21, Crete,

Nebr. 68333 [22] Filed: Aug. 13, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 63,520

Ingram ..8l/59.l

3,204,496 9/ l 965 1,483,598 2/1924 Runnem ..85/8.8 UX

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 258,394 5/1949 Switzerland ..85/8.8

Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr. An0meyHiram A. Sturges [57] ABSTRACT A driver which can be used, for example, as a socket wrench, comprising an over-running roller clutch, a handle means surrounding and attached to the roller clutch, a rotor assembly having a rotor portion in the rotor clutch and having a tool means attached to the rotor portion and projecting to one side of the clutch.

3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures mcminsrr' 1912 3;sae'.s1o

FIG/- Q I =5T g /A'\\\\\ Y A\\\\\\\Q I2 DRIVING CONDITION OVER RUNNING CONDITION LEVER HANDLE DRIVING on LEVER BACK F F/G. 6 F/G. 7

IN VE' N TOR: RONALD J. VLASIN 1 OVER-RUNNING CLUTCH DRIVING TOOL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention is in the field of drivers for socket wrenches and other tools in which the driver has a ratchetlike action in that it can move forward while driving and can be rotated backward without driving due to the use of an over-running clutch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Driving tools in this field and in the prior art have had disadvantages of one kind or another. Among these disadvantages, a first disadvantage is the problem of a tool membersuch as a socket fitting, the exterior of which forms the rotor, but the socket fitting undesirably passing up into and sliding partially through the over-running clutch at times when the tool is pressed against work, making it impossible to press the tool firmly against work and yet have the socket end of the tool project outwardly from the clutch, which latter .is desirable in order to engage the work with a minimum of interference between the handle of the driver andsurrounding portions of the machinery as the handle is moved for causing rotation.

A second disadvantage of prior art tools of this kind has been in that when the construction is such that the tool will not desirably retract into the clutch from pressure, a second disadvantage remains in that the tool cannot be moved from one side of the clutch to the other to reverse the driving direction because of a permanent attachment to the clutch.

A third disadvantage of prior art tools is that when the problem of a tool undesirably sliding into the clutch has been solved in still another way, a disadvantage of the solution has been that the driver has lost the desired clearance which it would preferably have in working in tight places because of a projection away from the side of the clutch which faces away from the working tool, such a projection sometimes interfering with and bumping against parts of machinery in tight places.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In combination: a driver comprising an over-running roller clutch the inner most surfaces of which are approximately arranged on a cylindrical configuration having an axis, a rotor mounted for rotation about the axis and in the clutch, a tool means attached to and projecting from the rotor so as to project from one side of the clutch, the driver being so constructed that that end of the rotor which is opposite the tool means is free of any elements projecting away from the axis beyond the cylindrical configuration of innermost parts of the clutch whereby the rotor can be removed from one side of the clutch and inserted again on the other side of the clutch in order to reverse the direction of drive.

That side of the rotor which is opposite the tool means not projecting beyond its adjacent side of the clutch to a substantial degree in order to maintain at a minimum the dimension of the driver as measured along said axis so that the driver can be used in tight places with maximum effectiveness.

A driver as described having a first modification provided with a shoulder on the tool side of the rotor and extending away from said axis sufficiently to permit said rotor from slipping undesirably up into the clutch at times when pressure is applied on the tool in the direction of the clutch.

The modification of the driver described, but in which there is no shoulder on the tool side of the rotor and between the tool and the rotor, but instead there is at that place a notch in a side of the rotor and extending transversely to the axis and in which there is provided a forked retainer, one side of which is adapted to engage in said notch and be removable therefrom by sliding the retainer in a direction at a right angle to said axis while the other side of the forked part of ,said retainer engages an opposite side of said rotor, the retainer having a grip portion extending away from the, remainder of the retainer and disposed beyond the handle of the driver as the driver is viewed from that side of the driver which is opposite to the tool means, the tool means and the rotor including the part in which said notch is disposed, all being of dimensions within the cylindrical configuration of the cylindrical outer surface of the rotor so that the rotor and tool means can be passed completely through the clutch and re-inserted from the opposite side in order to reverse the direction of drive, that end of the rotor which is opposite the tool means having a portion projecting away from said axis beyond the inner surfaces of said clutch so as to prevent said rotor from passing through said clutch in the direction of said tool in order to help hold the rotor in said clutch except at times when said retainer is removed.

The retainer handle extending away from the remainder of the retainer in a direction generally parallel to said axis and generally toward that end of the rotor which is opposite the tool means for minimum interference with work, and for better access to work.

The combination described in which said handle extends away from said axis at substantially a right angle to the axis whereby the projection of said tool means from said clutch and handle causes it to be offset from said handle for better access to the work with less interference between the handle and other work objects that might be in the way of rotation of the handle in tight places.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the driver of this invention shown with the projecting tool means serving as an example, the tool means being an adapter of the type used in socket wrenches.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a modification of the driver as taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 3 is a detail showing in side elevation a rotor with tool means mounted thereon, the particular tool means shown being a socket tool for the use of the driver of the socket wrench, certain parts thereof being broken away and other parts showing in section.

FIG. 4 is a detail showing the rotor and tool of FIGS. 2 and 5, as it would be seen from the left-hand side of FIGS. 2 and 5, with the retainer thereon.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a modification of the rotor and tool assembly shown with the retainer in place thereon, a portion of the driver head being shown as attached thereto, with the exception that portions of the rotor are broken away to show the positions of notches in opposite sides of the rotor.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the parts shown in FIG. 5.

away of the housing to show a ball detent assembly mounted in the tool.

' FIGS. 9 and 10 are cut-away views partly in cut-away cross section both taken along the lines 9-9 in FIG. 1 showing different operating conditions of the wrench of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The over-running clutch type driving tool or driver of this invention is generally indicated at 10 in FIG. I and comprises an over-running roller clutch generally indicated at 12, the clutch 12 can be of the type shown in U.S. Pat- Nos. 3,184,020; 3,194,368; 3,241,641; 3,260,333; or it could also be of the types shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 2,897,932 issued to P. S. Morgan, Aug. 4, 1959, entitled, RATCI-IET-TYPE TOOLS AND CLUTCI-IES THEREFOR; or of the type shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,612, to our R. W. Batten, entitled, DRIVERS FOR SETTING FASTENERS, dated Aug. 27, 1968.

It will be seen that the Batten patent uses rollers or rolling members which are specifically of the ball type and that the particular type of over-running clutch shown in FIG. 1 herein and also as shown in the Morgan patent are roller clutches having rollers which are of the cylindrical type.

The innermost surfaces of a roller clutch are the inner surfaces of the rollers themselves and those surfaces are arranged on a cylindrical configuration shown in the drawing at 30. The clutch 12 shown in the drawing is diagrammatically shown since such clutches are well-known in the prior art and a diagrammatic showing is used, for example, in FIG. 1 of the Batten patent.

In FIG. 2, the clutch is diagrammatically shown at 12 in cross-section. A cylindrical rotor-receiving opening is, therefore, shown at 40, as defined by the configuration 30, the configuration and opening both having an axis 50.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the overrunning roller clutch 12. One convenient example of the clutch is available from the Torrington Company, Torrington, Connecticut model RC-l62l 10. The clutch 12 comprises a one-piece retaining and actuating cage 24 fixed to the walls of the rotor-receiving opening 40. Located between the two end surfaces 24a of the cage 24 are a plurality of peripheral teeth 25 forming sloping wedge-shaped cam-bearing surfaces 30. Longitudinal bars 26 extend between the ends of cage 24' and an integral roller-retaining step 27 is located on the inner edge of each bar. An integral bifurcated leaf spring 28 projects from the midpoint (not shown) of the front face of each bar 26. Rollers 29 are retained in the space between cam surfaces 30, steps 37 and leaf springs 28.

As illustrated in FIG. 9 when the head end 72 of the wrench is rotated in a clockwise direction (such as when tightening right hand bolt threads), rollers 29 are urged toward steps 27 due to springs 28 and become wedged between cam-bearing surfaces 30 and cylindrical rotor 62,

The wedging of rollers 29 between cam-bearing surface 30 and shaft 15 prevents the rollers from rotating. Rotor 62 thus rotates with the head end 72 due to the wedging action of rollers 29 against cam-bearing surfaces 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, when the head end 72 of the wrench is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, (such as when backing off lever handle 74) rollers 29 are urged against springs 28 due to friction between the surface of'cylindrical shaft 15 and rollers 29. Since rollers 29 are free from contact with cam-bearing surfaces 30, rollers 29 are permitted to rotate about their own axis as cage 24 urges rollers 29 in a counterclockwise path around cylindrical rotor 62. Rotor 62 thus remains stationary while head end 72 and rollers 29 rotate about it.

In practice a suitable nut .or bolt-head gripping device, not shown, is attached to the tool means 80 of FIG. 2 or to the tool means 80" of FIG. 4, or to the tool 580 of FIG. 8 in a conventional manner for rotational movement of the handles 74 around the axis 50 of FIG. 1.

In the driving condition as illustrated in FIG. 9, the positive action of the rollers against cam-bearing surfaces 30 and the surface of rotor 62 will cause rotor 62 to rotate through an angle by locking onto the rotor. In the back-off condition as illustrated in FIG. 10, handle 74 may be backed-off through an incremental angle, and the rollers will release from their wedged position to allow cage 24' to overrun through a similar incremental angle. I

The clutch I2 is open at each end, or in other words, at its top and bottom, as seen in FIG. 2, and a rotor assembly, which can-"be of a type shown at 60 in the modification of FIG. 2, or as shown at 60' the modification of FIG. 3, is disposed with its rotor portion 62 or 62' respectively received in the cylindrical configuration 30 of the clutch 12.

The rotor assembly 60 or 60 each has a rotor 62 or 62 which are cylindrical having as their axis the axis 50 so that the cylindrical rotor surfaces 64 or 64' respectively can be received in and driven by the overrunning roller clutch 12 in a conventional way.

In accordance with this invention, the handle means having a head end 72 is provided, the handle means having a long lever portion 74 which extends at a right angle to the axis 50 in a conventional manner of a socket wrench handle, for example. Three rotor assembly are shown at 60, 60' and 60" in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Each rotor assembly 60, 60' and 60 having a rotor 62, 62' and 62", each said rotor having a cylindrical configuration on its exterior and each, by way of example, having a variation of tool means 80, and 80" attached to and forming a part of the respective rotor assembly, although the form of attachment in the case of the modifications of FIG. 3 and 4, is simply a frictional attachment or surrounding an engagement of the rotor by the clutch, all three rotors 60, 60 and 60" being removable from the respective clutches which they may be received in so that they can be recinserted from a reverse side to reverse the direction of driving rotation.

The tool or tool means 80 has a rectangular crosssection taken at a right angle to the axis 50 to illustrate the form of adapter tool commonly used in socket wrench sets and which has a ball detent assembly, the tool mounted therein.

The tool portion 80' of the rotor assembly 60' in FIG. 3 is a socket wrench type tool having a socket 82 downwardly opening, the rotor 62' having a shoulder 84 disposed immediately below its cylindrical surface 64' and extending away from the axis 50 farther than the cylindrical surface 64' so as to engage the underside of the clutch 12 so that an application of pressure downwardly will not cause the rotor end tool to slip undesirably through the clutch, but so that it will stay in place firmly. v

In FIG. 4, the rotor assembly 60 has'the adaptertype tool 80" mounted on its underside, the tool 80" being square in cross-section taken at a right angle to the axis 50, as is common for socket wrenches. The rotor assembly 60" of FIG. 4 uses a removable retainer 1 l0 later described in substitution for the shoulder 84.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the method of attaching the tool means 80 to the rotor 62 is by means of providing a hole 130 of square cross-section extending along the axis 50 completely through the rotor 62, which latter is of substantially cylindrical shape from end to end.

Into the hole 130 and extending completely through it is a shank 140, square in cross-section, and slidably disposed in the hole 130 and having at its upper end an enlarged stop 150 which is attached to the shank 140, and the stop 150 extends outwardly at a right angle to the axis 50 farther than the cylindrical configuration of the inside of the clutch 12, whereby the stop 150 serves to prevent the rotor 62 from moving downwardly through the clutch 12.

As best seen in FIG. 2, an optional ball detent assembly 170 can be provided on the shank 140 inwardly of the rotor 62 for engaging the interior of the rotor 62 to tend to retain the shank 140 therein, as is more useful at times when the stop 150 is not used, as is an optional variation.

A numeral 190 has its leader line extending to a point between the rotor 62 and the shank 140 to indicate that at that place, for example, a securing means such as a cement or other means could be used to permanently secure the shank 140 to the rotor 62, as would not be done in practice, but is mentioned here to illustrate that the shank 140 and rotor 62 could be of one piece or else permanently attached.

The rotor 62 projects downwardly beyond the clutch 12 a certain distance above the work means or adapter and has on one or both of its sides one or more suitable notches 220 which extend inwardly thereof at a right angle to the axis 50 each for receiving a leg 240 of a forked retainer 110, which latter is of a size for projecting beyond the configuration 30 so as to overlap the clutch 12 when the retainer 250 is in place with its legs 240 received in the notches 220, whereby the retainer 250 forms a shoulder means which is removable and which prevents the tool 80 and rotor 62 from moving upwardly undesirably when pressure is placed on the tool 80.

The retainer has a handle 270 which extends upwardly generally parallel to the axis 50 and in a direction away from the tool 80 alongside the outer side of the outermost end of the handle 72 where it is out of the way but yet can be gripped for pulling the retainer out of the notches 220 for releasing the rotor rigidly, rather than slidably, attached to the rotor 62" of FIG. 4.

In operation, it is important to notice that the overall dimensions of the tool of this invention, as measured along the axis 50, are at minimum with either a very minimum or no projection of the 'rotors beyond that side of the clutch 12 which is opposite the tool means 80, 80', 80",or 80"", which latter is an adapter-type square plug tool means having a shoulder 84" disposed between it and the respective rotor 62"".

This construction gives much better clearance for inserting the wrench into tight places with minimum distance from the outer tip of the tool back along the axis 50 to the other side of the rotor.

In FIG. 8 a modification is shown in which the rotor 362 differs from the rotor 62 in that the rotor 362 has two spaced recesses 380 and 382 in one of the flat side walls 386 of the square hole 430 therethrough, the hole 430 otherwise being of the same shape as the hole and for the same reason, since a modified tool 580 of FIG. 1 is elongated but with a square cross-section similarly to the tool 80. The tool 580 has a ball detent assembly 590 mounted therein having a spring 594, housing 596, which latter is crimped about the outer side of a detent ball 600 held in the housing 596 and urged outwardly by spring 594.

In operation, it will be seen that when the ball 600 is in one groove 382, a first end 700 of the tool or tool means 580 projects a sufficient distance from the nearest end of the rotor 362 as to provide an outwardly projecting portion 720 of the tool 580 that is of sufficient size for the good gripping of a socket, not shown, or other object.

When it is desired to reverse rotation, the tool 580 can be manually positioned up through the rotor 362 until its second end 800 is in the dotted line position shown in FIG. 8 having moved from a full line position in which it can be substantially flush with, and at least not projecting excessively from, the adjacent end 820 of the rotor 362.

In operation of the tool of FIG. 8, it will be seen to be important that the recesses 380 and 382 are exactly as far apart as the desired distance of travel of the tool 580 between a first position for its use while rotating in one direction and the dotted line position for its use while rotating in an opposite direction.

Expressed in another way, a shank is indicated at 840 in FIG. 8 having an end A which forms the first tool and an end B which forms a second tool.

Referring to FIG. 2, it is to be understood that the outer side of the clutch 12 is firmly and non-rotatably secured at 900 to the surrounding handle 72. This can be done by bonding cement or by tightly pressed fit using heat expansion of the handle and later cooling to make a rigid connection.

The rotor 62 and tools means 80 together form a rotor and tool means assembly generally indicated at 500. A retaining assembly is generally indicated at 510 in FIG. 2. The retaining assembly is-disposed in an area of the rotor and tool means assembly 500 which is between the clutch l2 and an outer terminal end 520 of the tool means 80.

The retaining assembly 510 comprises a retainer holding portion 530 which is rigidly attached to the rotor and tool means assembly 500 and preferably extends down below the rotor 62 and has a cylindrical outer surface in alignment with the cylindrical outer surface 64 of the rotor 62. The retainer holding portion 530 has a notch therein on at least one, and preferably two, opposite sides thereof, such notches being indicated at 600. v I

The first and second legs or side portions 240 of the forked retainer 110 have inner opposed edges 550 disposed in the notches 600, respectively. The retainer 1 10 can be also said to have an interconnecting portion 560 interconnecting the side portions or legs 240, the retainer 110 being slidable out of the notches 600 for releasing the retainer holding portion.

The retainer can be seen to have its interconnecting portion 560 extending away from the axis 50 beyond the cylindrical exterior of the rotor 62 for limiting movement of the rotor towards the clutch 12 because of engagementof the retainer interconnecting portion 560 with an adjacent end of the clutch 12.

It will be seen that those inner edges 220 of the spaced side portions 240 of the retainer 110 are parallel and, therefore, as viewed in a plane on the opposite side of said retainer from the clutch, each of the inner edges 220 being substantially without a portion extending toward the opposite side portion of the retainer beyond the adjacent surface of said retainer holding portion for ease of retainer removal from said retainer holding portion.

1 claim:

1. In combination: a driver comprising an overrunning roller clutch the innermost surfaces of which are approximately arranged on a cylindrical configuration having an axis for providing a rotor receiving opening therebetween whereby the clutch is open at each end, a rotor assembly comprising a rotor, said rotor having a cylindrical outer surface received in said rotor opening and operably engageable by said clutch so that upon the rotation of said clutch in one direction about said axis a driving condition is established in which said rotor is forced to rotate with said clutch about said axis,

means to said rotor for rotation therewith about said axis so said rotor drives said tool means, said tool means having work surfaces which are spaced from said clut ch, said rotor and said tool means fonginga rotor an tool means assemb y, a retaining assem y or said rotor and tool means assembly, said retaining assembly being disposed in an area of said rotor and tool means assembly which is between said clutch and an outer portion of said tool means, said retaining assembly comprising a retainer holding portion rigidly attached to said rotor and tool means assembly, said retainer holding portion having a notch therein on one side thereof, and a forked retainer having a first side portion slidably received in said notch, said forked retainer having a second side portion disposed on the opposite side of said retainer holding portion from said notch, said retainer also having an interconnectingportion interconnecting said side portions, said retainer being slidable with respect to said retainer holding portion and removable from said retainer holding portion by said sliding for allowing said retainer holding portion to pass out of from between said side portions, said retainer extending away from I said axis beyond the cylindrical exterior of said rotor for limiting movement of said rotor towards said clutch, each of those edges of said sides of said retainer which face said retainer holding portion, as viewed in a plane on the opposite side of said retainer from the clutch, being substantially without a portion extending toward the opposite side portion of said retainer beyond the adjacent surface of said retainer holding portion for ease of retainer removal from said retainer holding portion, said retainer having a grip portion extending away from the remainder of said retainer beyond portions of said handle as said driver is viewed from the tool means side thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said grip means specifically extends away from said retainer in a direction generally parallel to said axis and away from said tool means.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which said retainer holding portion is rigidly attached to said rotor. 

1. In combination: a driver comprising an over-running roller clutch the innermost surfaces of which are approximately arranged on a cylindrical configuration having an axis for providing a rotor receiving opening therebetween whereby the clutch is open at each end, a rotor assembly comprising a rotor, said rotor having a cylindrical outer surface received in said rotor opening and operably engageable by said clutch so that upon the rotation of said clutch in one direction about said axis a driving condition is established in which said rotor is forced to rotate with said clutch about said axis, and whereby when said clutch is rotated in an opposite direction about said axis said rotor will be released by said clutch for creating an over-running condition for back-off, handle means attached to the outside of said clutch and extending outwardly from said axis beyond said clutch whereby said handle means provides the leverage for facilitating rotation of said clutch, a tool means attached to said rotor and extending along said axis away from said clutch, means attaching said tool means to said rotor for rotation therewith about said axis so said rotor drives said tool means, said tool means having work surfaces which are spaced from said clutch, said rotor and said tool means forming a rotor and tool means assembly, a retaining assembly for said rotor and tool means assembly, said retaining assembly being disposed in an area of said rotor and tool means assembly which is between said clutch and an outer portion of said tool means, said retaining assembly comprising a retainer holding portion rigidly attached to said rotor and tool means assembly, said retainer holding portion having a notch therein on one side thereof, and a forked retainer having a first side portion slidably received in said notch, said forked retainer having a second side portion disposed on the opposite side of said retainer holding portion from said notch, said retainer also having an interconnecting portion interconnecting said side portions, said retainer being slidable with respect to said retainer holding portion and removable from said retainer holding portion by said sliding for allowing said retainer holding portion to pass out of from between said side portions, said retainer extending away from said axis beyond the cylindrical exterior of said rotor for limiting movement of said rotor towards said clutch, each of those edges of said sides of said retainer which face said retainer holding portion, as viewed in a plane on the opposite side of said retainer from the clutch, being substantially without a portion extending toward the opposite side portion of said retainer beyond the adjacent surface of said retainer holding portion for ease of retainer removal from said retainer holding portion, said retainer having a grip portion extending away from the remainder of said retainer beyond portions of said handle as said driver is viewed from the tool means side thereof.
 2. The combination of claim 1 in which said grip means specifically extends away from said retainer in a direction generally parallel to said axis and away from said tool means.
 3. The combination of claim 1 in which said retainer holding portion is rigidly attached to said rotor. 